MURFREESBORO — More than $43.8 million in funding to construct a new middle school on Rocky Fork Road in Smyrna and renovate two other Smyrna schools was unanimously recommended for approval by the Rutherford County Budget, Finance and Investment Committee during its Thursday meeting.

The recommendation will head to the Rutherford County Commission, which can give final approval to the three projects during its meeting next week.

Continued growth in the county school system, which estimated it enrolled 1,250 new students this year, required the approval of the new school and renovations in Smyrna, said Commissioner Will Jordan, chair of the budget committee.

"What it all boils down to is that we've got to put kids somewhere," Jordan said at the meeting. "And they keep coming."

County officials have previously warned that continued school construction would require additional property tax increases to fund it.

As in previous committees, commissioners were told that school officials would continue to request funding for additional construction as the 43,000-plus student school system continues to grow.

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The Rutherford County School Board has approved funding to clear land for two schools at their Rocky Fork Road property in Smyrna.(Photo: Helen Comer / DNJ)

By the end of 2020, Assistant Superintendent for Construction and Engineering Gary Clardy outlined a timeline on paper where an estimated $290 million would be requested to continue to build and renovate schools. Those projects include a proposed $54.45 million high school in Rockvale, a new elementary school on Rocky Fork Road in Smyrna and additions to Oakland Middle and Buchanan Elementary School.

"We feel very strong about the seats we're going to need," Clardy said. "We're going to need this entire sheet."

The proposed middle school on Rocky Fork Road east of Interstate 24 is projected to cost $35.6 million. Enough property was purchased last year to house a separate elementary school on the site, though funding has not been requested for that project. The Health and Education Committee recommended the construction of the Rocky Fork Road middle school and renovations for Smyrna Middle and David Youree.

The county commission previously spent $2.62 million to purchase the property and $2.9 million for design and site work on the land.

The Smyrna Middle project, estimated to cost $9.26 million, would add new classrooms, science labs and a library/media center along with an expanded cafeteria.

The David Youree project would add a handful of classrooms and a new set of offices in the front of the building that would serve as a more secure entrance. The elementary school project is expected to cost $5.6 million if completed.